Blumenfall?

Imagine an accomplished, impeccably credentialed state attorney general in a New England state who becomes a Democratic U.S. Senate candidate, only to trip up and go into a Senate race damaged enough to possibly lose to an undistinguished and somewhat vulgar Republican with prole appeal.

Martha Coakley in Massachusetts? No, Richard Blumenthal in Connecticut!

Blumenthal, the Connecticut Attorney General and a popular and widely respected figure in his state, was sort of the Eliot Spitzer of New England - a tough elected state law enforcement agent (Spitzer, remember, was New York State attorney general before becoming governor of New York) who fights on the side of the people. When Connecticut Democratic senator Chris Dodd announced his decision not to seek a sixth term in November, Blumenthal declared his candidacy for the seat, and he was considered a shoo-in against the likely Republican challenger, professional wrestling impresario Linda McMahon (wife of Vince).

Then word came out that Blumenthal apparently said he served in the Vietnam War when he did not in fact do so.

It seems Blumenthal could go down like Spitzer did, but over war and words, not women. Like Coakley, he could lose his Senate bid to a Republican of the opposite sex who has a connection with unlettered beer swillers. The idea of such a reputable state attorney general losing to a woman whose career has been promoting a low-class form of entertainment that appeals to guys like Scott Brown must be giving Connecticut Democrats agita.

Blumenthal received several deferments between 1965 and 1970 before joining the Marine Reserve, and he made statements that led people to believe he had gone to Vietnam and seen action. His Democratic primary opponent, Merrick Alpert, has attacked him for lying about his military record and using privilege to avoid serving in Vietnam. Republican Senate hopeful Rob Simmons has also come out swinging. Mrs. McMahon simply posted the New York Times article that broke the story on her Web site, without comment.

Blumenthal has responded quickly, calling the Times article a distortion of what he said and insisting that he never tried to insinuate that he fought in Vietnam. He said in 2008 that he was aware of the taunts against Vietnam veterans because he had been in the Marine Reserve, but somehow he forgot to mention that his unit was never called up. He has, though, reminded voters that he made his nonservice in the war clear in a Senate primary debate in March when he said, "Although I did not serve in Vietnam, I have seen firsthand the effects of military action."

Some experts think the Blumenthal can survive this damage because Connecticut voters are familiar with him and can trust him. But if the effect on popularly elected state attorneys general is to become more ambitious for higher office and ultimately kill their own political careers because of their own character traits, I'm kind of glad the New Jersey state attorney general serves at the pleasure of the governor.